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William and Mary

Public Policy Program

The goal of public policy education at William & Mary is to provide individuals with the intellectual tools needed to improve the quality of policymaking in the United States and abroad. Students who graduate from the program will have a knowledge of economics, statistics, politics, law, ethics, and substantive policy domains that will equip them to be effective participants in the policy process, whether in government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private sector firms.

Degrees Offered

Master of Public Policy (MPP)

Fields of Specialization/Study Tracks

In addition to the core studies in either the domestic or international development track, students are encouraged to develop a focused expertise through their elective courses. Areas of focus include social policy, health policy, environmental policy, and globalization and development. Each area has a designed series of courses leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the economics, governmental institutions, and legal aspects of the subject area. We also offer four joint degree programs.

Area Studies

Public Policy Analysis (domestically focused)
International Development and Policy

Graduate Program Overview

The Master in Public Policy (MPP) program is a two-year, full-time residential program. In addition to academics, the focus of the program is on "policy in practice" which is incorporated into the curriculum through collaborative, real-world projects, off-campus programming such as Policy Dialogues, and a required 10-week internship between the two academic years. Given our location, within 3 hours to Washington D.C. and an hour to the State Capitol, we are able to offer multiple opportunities for students to get out of the classroom and interact with policy professionals in a wide range of settings.

Admissions Deadline

Priority Deadline: January 15th

Admissions Overview

William & Maryâ€™s MPP admissions committee views applicantsâ€™ credentials holistically. We require personal statements clarifying the applicantâ€™s interest in the degree program and their track of interest, letters of recommendation with academic references, information on relevant work and internship experiences, GRE scores and official prior academic records. As a quantitatively focused program, the committee does view prior academic records with specific attention to math and economics-based coursework; however, all undergraduate majors are encouraged to apply. Overall the committee is looking for a well-rounded candidate with potential for success as a student in the program and as a professional in the policy world.